Marvin Don Large
Sept. 29, 1934 – June 10, 2022
Marvin Don Large was born Sept. 29, 1934 to Everett and Jessie (Rathbun) Large at Hamlet, Nebraska. He grew up with his parents, two sisters Iris (Fanning) and Peggy (Christner) and a brother Richard Leroy northeast of Wauneta. He attended Estelle grade school and Wauneta High School graduating in 1952. He got his start in agricultural with 4-H and FFA projects, showing calves at the Hayes County Fair and he participate in many livestock judging contests. During high school he participated in football, basketball, track, glee club, chorus, dramatics, and FFA. He received a Nebraska State Farmer award in FFA in 1952.
On June 13, 1954, Marvin married his high school sweetheart Arlene F. Kennedy at the Blanche Church. After marriage they lived in a small mobile home at his parents place for nine months before moving back to her home place in the Blanche Community in 1955 and formed a farming and ranching partnership with Arlene’s family Robert and Ruby Kennedy. When Robert and Ruby retired and moved to Wauneta, Marvin’s family moved into the main farm house where they had room for their family to grow. They were blessed with 5 children: Joey Don, Kevin Eugene, Dean Timothy, Dale Anthony and Regina Marie.
They moved to Imperial in 1996 and remained active in ranching until 2011 when he retired. He learned the game of golf and enjoyed many hours on the Imperial Golf course playing with friends and family.
Marvin was one of the early farmers in the area to use ecofallow farming methods, rotational grazing, Artificial Insemination (AI), Hi Tensel fencing methods and computerized his cow records for his beef herd.
Marvin began using AI in 1973 to improve the genetics in his beef cow herd. He developed breeding facilities to help him provide better breeding service to his customers. After building the first double stall and single stall barns on the farm with the help of three sons and hired hands, he decided to outsource the construction of the facilities and concentrate on sales and delivery of the barns, making short vacations out of the trips they made. Sales of the barn units became a steady part of Marvin and Arlene’s life and by 2012 sales of the units were in 33 states, Australia, Canada, and Russia. Marvin was an ABS rep for 25 years in SW NE helping local ranchers improve their herds. During the “Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle Symposium (ARSBC) in Manhattan, Kansas on August 29, 2017 he was recognized being the first “Pioneer Award” recipient for making outstanding contributions towards reproductive tools, technology or service that has broadly benefited the U.S. beef industry.
He was active in the Blanche Rural School Board, Wauneta Farmers Coop, Chase County Farm Bureau, 4-H Council, a 4-H Club leader, Extension Council member, school redistricting Board, Member and officer of the Upper Republican NRD, Board member and President of the Federal Land Bank, Imperial Community Foundation, Imperial Lions Club, and he was the Financial Chairman for the Building Committee for the new United Methodist Church that was built in 1991.
After moving to Imperial he helped organize and became a Director of the Great Western Cattle Trail representing Western NE. The purpose of the Board was to mark the cattle trails in Nebraska with concrete markers that livestock herds left from being driven from Texas into Nebraska on their way to Ogallala or on to Montana. A current map of the cattle trails that Marvin put together has recently been put on display at the Champion Museum for the public to see.
Marvin passed away early Friday morning June 10, 2022, at the Wauneta Care & Therapy Center in Wauneta from complications created from breaking a hip on May 30, 2022.
Marvin was preceded in death by his wife Arlene; parents Everett and Jessie Large; brother Leroy and sister Iris. Also preceding him in death are daughter-in-laws Sylvia Large, Sandra Large and Janice Large, and brother-in-law Ray Hamilton.
Survivors include: four sons Joey (Myra) Large of Wauneta, Kevin Large of Hayes Center, Dean Large of Wauneta and Dale (Elisa) Large of Imperial and one daughter Regina (Stuart) Pederson of Burrton, Kansas; 18 grandchildren Andrea (Kip) Richards, Stacy (Mark) Schleusener, Ryan Large, Lichelle (Lance) Barr, Joslyn (Jake) Nelson, Halsie Large, Kerbie (Jacob) Bracht, Krystal (Nathan) Einspahr, Greg (Courtney) Large, Megan (James) McCrumb, Alisha (Jay) Wood, Kimberly Large, Samantha (Ron Encarnacion) Large, Miria Moore, Rachel (John) Cheek, Rebecca (Roman) Hofer, Stephen (Kelsey)Pederson and Silas (Micah) Pederson and 41 Great Grandchildren.
Additional survivors are sister-in-law Lela Marie Hamilton of Wauneta, sister-in-law Charlotte Large of Lincoln and sister Peggy (Bernard) Christner of Rapid City, South Dakota.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday morning, June 21, 2022 at 10 a.m. at the Imperial First United Methodist Church, with Pastor Deb Copple officiating. Interment will follow at 2 p.m. at the Riverside Cemetery, Wauneta, Nebraska.
Visitation will be held Monday afternoon June 20, 2022, 3-6 p.m. at the Liewer Funeral Home in Imperial.
In leu of flowers, the family has chosen donations or gifts be made to the Wauneta Care and Therapy Center in Wauneta, or the Lions Club of Imperial.
Online condolences may be left at liewerfuneralhome.com.